Phil Cockrell
| Phil Cockrell | |
|---|---|
 Cockrell at the 1924 Negro League World Series | |
| Pitcher | |
|
Born: July 9, 1895 Augusta, Georgia | |
|
Died: March 31, 1951 (aged 55) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | |
| Batted: Right | Threw: Right |
| Professional debut | |
| 1917 for the New York Lincoln Giants | |
| Last professional appearance | |
| 1934 for the Philadelphia Stars | |
| Negro league statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 89-67 |
| Run average | 4.68 |
| Strikeouts | 469 |
| Teams | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Pitched a no-hitter on Sunday, June 25, 1922 in Clifton, New Jersey[3] | |
Phillip "Fish" Cockrell, born Phillip Williams, (July 9, 1895 in Augusta, Georgia – March 31, 1951 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was a baseball player in the Negro Leagues.
Cockrell started his career as a top-level Negro League pitcher in 1917, playing for both with the Lincoln Giants[1] and Hilldale.[2] He pitched for Hilldale from then until the team's demise in 1932.
He was pitcher and outfielder from 1917 to 1934.
Cockrell was the first pitcher to pitch in the first Negro League World Series. Game One of the Negro League World Series occurred on October 3, 1924 at the Baker Bowl in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Cockrell was also the first Negro League pitcher to pitch at historic Hinchliffe Stadium in Paterson, New Jersey. He started the first game of a doubleheader between the Paterson Pros and the Bacharach Giants on August 14, 1932. While with Hilldale he formed a close friendship with teammate George Washington "Dibo" Johnson that extended beyond the baseball diamond, and he and Johnson roomed together after their playing careers ended.
He lived in Philadelphia after his retirement as a player, rooming with former teammate George Johnson. After Dibo Johnson died, Cockrell led a fundraiser to get money for a memorial tablet for his grave.
Cockrell was murdered in 1951 when he was shot by a jealous husband in a case of mistaken identity as he walked out of a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania bar. He is buried at Mount Lawn Cemetery, Sharon Hill, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, USA.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Lincoln Giants defeated the Ironsides" The Jersey Journal, Jersey City, New Jersey, Monday Evening, April 15, 1918, Page 9, Column 5
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Hilldale Again" Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA, Sunday, June 30, 1918, Page 20, Column 2
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Cockrell Enters Hall of Fame" Cleveland Gazette, Cleveland, Ohio, Saturday, July 1, 1922, Page 2, Column 3
External links
- Negro league baseball statistics and player information from Seamheads.com, or Baseball-Reference (Negro leagues)
| |||||